COP-15

On Monday 14 December 2009, I was able to sit in on a side event on Gender and Women for Climate Justice at the Bella Center during the COP-15. The panel of four women discussed their NGOs and how their organizations tackle gender issues within Climate Change. The four organizations discussed the vulnerability that women in impoverished areas face during the effects of climate change.

Women are generally not involved in programs outside of their homes so they do not have a voice during struggle and conflict. This tradition makes it hard for women as climate change progresses because they are less likely to gain access to water and food. Through the process of climate change heavy rains or droughts wipe out food and water supplies. Many women are powerless in their communities through out the developing world and through the struggles and extreme circumstances of climate change many people become environmental refugees. Through these difficult experiences many women are raped and taken advantage of while trying to sustain their lives. For example, in Sudan and Darfur women are often raped while they try to collect firewood. The panelists at the Women for Climate Justice side event offered concrete programs that try and address these power struggles and injustices.

The role of the woman in developing communities is often based off cooking and in Bangladesh women have a difficult time getting big enough fish to prepare for food. The solution Practical Actions created was to teach the women how to build cages so that they could collect a large amount of fish in one attempt and go deeper and further into the water than a fishing rod can. This idea of empowering women through teaching them tools and skills allows the community to build itself up and sustain a life that is looking towards the future. The focus Practical Actions takes is through enabling poor communities to work there way out of poverty. Charities can be helpful to refugees in momentary struggles, but if people are to seek growth and change they must learn how to build themselves up first. Teaching these women different techniques in firewood gathering and fishing allows them to take control and power in their community and gives them a chance to survive in the harsh realities of climate change and poverty.

The power structures and traditional role of women in many communities makes it difficult for women in times of struggle, however, Practical Actions believes the key to justice for women is through, “reducing vulnerability, strengthening resilience, women as keepers of traditional knowledge and trainers.” Women are empowered through learning skills and techniques to improve their lives, and then they can become trainers to fellow community members.

The Gender Justice side event gave a face to Climate Change. Humanity is dependent on the deals that are created in the UN. With the developing Nations walking out of negotiations earlier this week at COP-15, it was disheartening for progress. It looks as though a strong, binding agreement will not be made here at COP-15. Right now a more weak result will most likely be a political agreement. Time is running out for the people in developing countries and it is very disheartening to see politics get in the way of a fair deal that helps bring Climate Justice to all nations and all peoples of the shared world we all live in.